calibrate

American  

[kal-uh-breyt] / ˈkæl əˌbreɪt /

verb (used with object)

calibrated, calibrating

1. to determine, check, or rectify the graduation of (any instrument giving quantitative measurements).

2. to divide or mark with gradations, graduations, or other indexes of degree, quantity, etc., as on a thermometer, measuring cup, or the like.

3. to determine the correct range for (an artillery gun, mortar, etc.) by observing where the fired projectile hits.

4. to plan or devise (something) carefully so as to have a precise use, application, appeal, etc..

   a sales strategy calibrated to rich investors.

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calibrate British  

/ ˈkælɪˌbreɪt /

verb

1. to measure the calibre of (a gun, mortar, etc)

2. to mark (the scale of a measuring instrument) so that readings can be made in appropriate units

3. to determine the accuracy of (a measuring instrument, etc)

4. to determine or check the range and accuracy of (a piece of artillery)

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calibrate Scientific  

/ kăl′ə-brāt′ /

1. To check, adjust, or standardize a measuring instrument, usually by comparing it with an accepted model.

2. To measure the diameter of the inside of a tube.

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Other Word Forms

• calibrater noun
• calibration noun
• calibrator noun
• recalibrate verb (used with or without object)
• uncalibrated adjective

Etymology

Origin of calibrate

First recorded in 1860–65; calib(e)r + -ate ¹

Explanation

The word calibrate means making precise measurement. For example, you might want to calibrate your bathroom scale now and then to be sure it’s adjusted for exact weight. Or calibrate it to read five pounds light. We won't tell. To find the origin of calibrate, we must look at its root, caliber, which appeared in the late 15th-century Middle French as calibre, meaning "a degree of importance." Linguists trace that word to an Arabic beginning, the word qalib, which referred to a mold for making bullets. That meaning seems to have carried over to our word, the verb calibrate, which first meant to measure the range of a projectile such as a bullet or shell.

Example Sentences

Whether that bet will pay off remains to be seen, but the broader market stabilized somewhat as investors continued to calibrate geopolitical impacts.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

Williams said such research plays a critical role in helping an independent Fed to calibrate the level of interest rates and support the economy to the best of its ability.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026

Of course, those models do have to calibrate the inputs correctly.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

The analysts think it will take some time to calibrate Snap’s new strategy, which involves increasing sponsored Snaps, to avoid further slides in daily active users.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

It’s true that every writer must calibrate the degree of specialization in her language against her best guess of the audience’s familiarity with the topic.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• adjust
• assess
• average
• check
• compute
• determine
• estimate
• evaluate
• fit
• gauge
• limit
• mark
• peg
• quantify
• rank
• regulate
• survey
• weigh